- Knowledgebase: Cough, Congestion, and Ears
- Questions about the managment of coughs and congestion, as well as ear infections.
- 11. Why do babies get ear infections? - Top
- An ear infection (otitis media) is an infection in the middle ear space. This space is closed to the outside world by the tympanic membrane, but open to the throat by the eustacian tube. The eustacian tube's purpose is to keep the pressure inside the middle ear equal to the outside world.
In babies, this tube is shorter and narrower. For these reasons, it can more easily become obstructed, leading to pressure or vacuum in the middle ear space. When that happens, fluid seeps through the walls of the chamber and fluid (effusion) collects. This fluid is a great place for bacteria to grow.
Where does this bacteria come from? Your own throat!
As you grow, the eustacian tube grows, and gets obstructed less, so adults dont get as many ear infections.
- Updated: March 9, 2001
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